Four Tips for Healthy Skin & Nails
The winter landscape is beautiful and challenging. In addition to shoveling, de-icing, and warming vehicles, winter can also create extra work for our bodies.
The colder air can cause dry, chapped skin, and the frigid winter temperatures may also keep us more inactive. Sitting or lying down too long without repositioning could cause skin breakdown or pressure sores.
The color and texture of our skin and fingernails can sometimes indicate underlying health issues. See your doctor for answers if you’re experiencing changes or have concerns.
Here are Four Tips for Healthy Skin & Nails
1. Water to the Rescue
Staying hydrated can benefit your body both internally and externally. Drink eight glasses of water daily, and opt for water-rich foods, too. Cucumbers, lettuce, strawberries, celery, tomatoes, spinach, and cantaloupe are all great foods to eat to stay hydrated and healthy.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a diet full of proper nutrients and foods rich in vitamins A, E, and D is important. They also suggest that eating healthy fats, carbohydrates, protein, and iron is helpful for healthy hair, skin, and nails. If you are deficient in these vitamins, speak with your healthcare provider to discuss whether or not you could benefit from supplements.
The air can dry out your home and your skin during the winter. If you enjoy cooking or making tea, boiling liquids in your kitchen can help add humidity to the air. If your home is large, consider adding portable humidifiers to help.
2. Lather, Rinse, Repeat
Staying clean is important, but finding the right balance for your needs is also best practice. You may not need to shower as often if you’re not sweating or moving around.
It’s also important not to wait too long between showers, as this can cause skin to break down. Exfoliating and using skin-friendly products to clean and moisturize your skin are also important. Exercise extreme caution in the tub if you’re using products that have oils in them, as they can make the tub very slippery.
Be sure to keep plenty of high-quality moisturizing products around in the winter. Keeping an extra lip balm and lotion handy will help you keep your skin healthy.
Unscented and chemical-free products are best, especially in your laundry. Some detergents can cause skin rashes or irritation. If you develop a rash, try to get it under control by switching products or speaking to your doctor about your condition. Scratching skin rashes can lead to open sores and complications like wounds.
If you spend a lot of time sitting or lying down, use a mirror to do routine checks to ensure you’re not developing skin breakdown or small sores. If you cannot complete your own skin checks, ask a trusted loved one or caregiver who can help you.
Prevention of skin breakdown is key. Wound care can be painful, costly, and time-consuming, and complications like infections could lead to hospitalizations or frequent clinic visits.
3. Watch Out for Nails
Fingernails and toenails can also give us signs about our health. If your nails are turning colors or there’s a noticeable change in their texture, follow up with your healthcare provider to determine the cause.
Keeping your nails trimmed is also important so you don’t scratch your skin and develop open areas. Consider seeing a professional for your nails if you have certain health conditions or if using a clipper is too difficult. It’s important to use care and avoid over-trimming.
If you have diabetes, exercise extreme caution with your toenails. It is important to see a podiatrist or someone your doctor recommends for nail care. Foot and other wounds can take a significant amount of time to heal if you have diabetes.
4. Take the Pressure Off
According to the Mayo Clinic, constant pressure on the skin can reduce blood flow and create pressure or bed sores. The most common sites of these painful wounds are the tailbone, heels, shoulder blades, spine, buttocks, and the back of arms and legs.
Patients should move around at least once every two hours to avoid the risk of developing sores. Those with circulation problems, fragile skin, or limited mobility may need to move around more frequently or be repositioned by caregivers.
While activity and movement can help prevent sores, sometimes they are caused by moving while wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes or socks. It’s best to complete regular head-to-toe skin checks and proper hygiene care, which can help stop sores from occurring.
If you have an open area or sore that hurts, is red, or is warm to the touch, be sure to see your doctor as soon as possible (especially if you are diagnosed with diabetes or cannot reposition independently). Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may prescribe wound dressing supplies, specialty equipment such as gel cushions or alternating air-pressure mattresses, and home health services to help you.
Home health nurses can be a godsend for those suffering from or at risk of developing open sores. In addition to wound care, they can educate patients and their caregivers on appropriate repositioning schedules, proper nutrition to aid wound healing, and the best practices to help avoid future issues.
Are you living at home with a chronic condition or recovering from a serious illness or injury that’s compromising your quality of life? CaringEdge can help!
Our home health services include skilled nursing care, physical and occupational therapies, dietary education, and social work services. Best of all, you don’t have to wait for major complications to arise before you qualify for home health. Contact us at info@caringedge.com today if you’re interested in home health services to feel your best.
